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Matheus Fernandes has opened up on his trophy ambitions at Barca while revealing that he takes inspiration from his "personal hero" Sergio Busquets.

Barca reached an agreement to sign Fernandes from Palmeiras for an initial €7 million (£6m/$8m) fee in the winter transfer window.

With the 22-year-old's transfer to Camp Nou not being finalised until July, he was sent out on loan to Real Valladolid for the second half of the 2019-20 campaign, but was made to wait for his La Liga debut amid the coronavirus crisis.

Fernandes was eventually handed his first taste of Spanish football when Valladolid were beaten 1-0 by Atletico Madrid at Wanda Metropolitano on June 20, and went on to appear in two more games for the club before joining up with his new team-mates at Barca.

The Brazilian is hoping he can help the Blaugrana fight for silverware across multiple fronts in the coming years, and would like to see out the remainder of his playing days in Catalonia after completing his "dream" move.

Fernandes told Barca's official website: "I want to win major trophies. It has always been my dream to play for Barca, and now I have got that chance I want to make the best impression possible - and if possible finish my career here."

"I have always had ambition and I always wanted to play alongside such great players, the kind of players that influenced me as a kid, and to follow in their footsteps.

"When I heard Barca was interested it was so rewarding to know that I have been doing things right. Because if a big club comes calling, that’s because you have been doing a good job."

The former Palmeiras star went on to admit that although he always looked up to Barca legends Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi, Busquets was the man he always tried to model himself upon.

"I have admired many players, but most of all Busquets," said Fernandes. "I always took inspiration from Busquets. There were others, like Xavi, Iniesta and Messi, who were all role models for me.

"I am so proud that people compare me to such a great player, my personal hero. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do what he did in a Barca shirt, but I hope to have a good career here, doing all I can to make a contribution to FC Barcelona."

The midfielder added on the challenge of playing in Spain's top flight: "I had always dreamed of coming here and playing for Barca in La Liga.

"I think this is where the best football in the world is played. I had a few doubts before coming onto the field for the first time, but once you get the ball and hear the fans behind you, you know what to do and it all goes right. I think this is one of the best leagues in the world."

Nantes winger Moses Simon has named Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo as the player he is modelling himself on.

The 25-year-old is a fan of Ronaldo, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, having won five Ballons d'Or in his trophy-laden career across England, Spain and Italy.

Simon, who was named Nantes’ Player of the Year after his outstanding debut campaign at the Ligue 1 club, disclosed his ambition is to keep working hard like the Portuguese superstar who turned 35 in February.

The Nigeria international ended the 2019-20 campaign with five goals and five assists in 25 league games for Christian Gourcuff’s side while Ronaldo played a starring role in Juventus’ Serie A triumph with a contribution of 31 goals and five assists in 33 appearances.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is the player I modelled my game after. I want to keep on working hard and improving like him,” Simon told Tribal Football.

After making a statement during his season-long loan from Levante, Nantes triggered the purchase option and handed Simon a four-year contract in July.

The versatile forward spent a single season in Spain, despite joining Levante on a five-year deal from Belgian outfit Gent.

During his brief stay in the Valencia-based club, Simon played 19 La Liga games and returned a goal in the 2018-19 campaign.

When quizzed about the differences between the Spanish top-flight and Ligue 1, the Super Eagles star cited the level of technicality and the level of physicality, aside from the language barrier.

"I think both leagues are very good, highly competitive and very exciting to play," he added.

"La Liga is more technical, while Lique 1 is more physical. That is the main difference aside from the language too. For me, it is a big honour to have played in both leagues."

Following the abrupt conclusion of the 2019-20 Ligue 1 season due to the coronavirus pandemic in April, the new campaign has been slated to begin on August 21.

Simon’s Nantes travel to the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux for their opening fixture of 2020-21 league campaign against Samuel Kalu and Josh Maja’s Bordeaux on August 22.  

The Portland Timbers won the MLS is Back Tournament after a 2-1 victory over Orlando City in the final on Tuesday.

Larrys Mabiala's headed opener for Portland was cancelled out by Mauricio Pereyra before half-time at the Walt Disney World Resort.

But Dario Zuparic scored what proved to be the winner for the Timbers in the 66th minute.

It marked a first trophy for the Timbers since 2015 as Portland secured a place in next year's Concacaf Champions League.

Portland took the lead in the 27th minute, Mabiala heading in a lovely set-piece from Diego Valeri.

But Orlando drew level six minutes before half-time after some nice work by Nani.

The former Manchester United star beat his man down the left before crossing, with Pereyra putting away the equaliser.

However, another Portland set-piece led to the Timbers restoring their lead.

Valeri's corner caused problems before Zuparic turned in Jeremy Ebobisse's effort for what proved to be the decisive goal.

This is Portland's second piece of silverware after they also lifted the MLS Cup in 2015.

Los Angeles FC striker Diego Rossi finished as top scorer at the tournament with seven strikes to his name, while Timbers' Sebastian Blanco contributed a tournament-high five assists. 

Portland's win in the final has booked their place in the Concacaf Champions League next year in what will be their third appearance at the competition. 

No messing around, that's the big message from Brad Maloney to his players as they prepare for the first friendly match after five weeks worth of training in July and August. And to properly measure his players, Maloney will not be pitting his players against those from the same age-groups.

PJ City FC (Aug 12) and Selangor II (Aug 19) have been selected as the opponents, two teams who play their competitive football in the Super League and Premier League respectively. Teams with not only players who are considerably older and more experienced but as well complete with foreign players. 

A difficult task for these youngsters considering this will be their first proper match in any shape or form since March, prior to the Movement Control Order (MCO) enforced by the Malaysian government because of the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Maloney is definitely throwing the gauntlet at his players to prove their worth.

"We wanted tough opponents and both PJ City and Selangor II are very good teams with senior players, so that will be a good test for our boys to see what level we're at. It's always in the back of your mind (possibility of injuries against older and more experienced opponents), but if you afraid of going onto the pitch to play football, something is not right either.

"What we're really looking at is to get our players their first test and see how long they can last. It'll be good to see how they can gel and see some combination play amongst the team, see what information they have been able to absord in these last two call-ups and put that into play out there on the pitch. 

"So it will be a good test for us. It might be physically challenging but I think for what we're aiming for, it's not a bad thing at the moment," said Maloney before Tuesday's training session.

Larrys Mabiala found the net as Portland Timbers beat Orlando City 2-1 to emerge as champions of the MLS is Back Tournament.

The Timbers had edged Philadelphia Union 2-1 in the semi-final, while the Lions blew aside Minnesota United FC 3-1.

In the final staged inside Florida’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Mabiala handed his team a 27th minute lead.

The DR Congo centre back headed past goalkeeper Pedro Gallese a beautiful freekick from captain Diego Valeri.

Mauricio Pereira levelled scores for City in the 39th minute after beating Steve Clarke from close range thanks to a beautiful cross from Nani.

Dario Zuparic restored Giovanni Savarese’s team lead in the 66 minutes after turning in Jeremy Ebobisse's effort – and that proved to be the winner for the Providence Park giants.

Despite his goal, Mabiala was cautioned in the 44th minute by Moroccan-born American referee Ismail Elfath.

“I have three kids and two are toddlers. I’ve had my son calling me every morning crying and asking me when I was going to come back,” the former Nice and Kayserispor star said after the game.

“So we told ourselves we just need to make it worth it, and nobody wanted to go back to our houses without the trophy.”

This win has sealed their place in the Concacaf Champions League next year in what will be their third appearance at the tournament.

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo believes that his side need new signings to reach the next level after exiting the Europa League at the hands of Sevilla on Tuesday.

Raul Jimenez missed a first-half penalty in the quarter-final match at MSV-Arena in Duisburg, and Wolves were made to pay late in the match when Lucas Ocampos scored the winner from a header in a 1-0 result.

Wolves have finished in seventh place in back-to-back seasons after being promoted to the Premier League, and Nuno has said his side were hampered in 2019-20 as they looked to compete domestically and in Europe. Still, the Portuguese boss was happy with his team reaching the last eight of the continental competition.

“It’s a small squad. We must be very proud,” Nuno told BT Sport after the game on Tuesday. “Now we need to make good decisions so we cannot make mistakes like we did before. We need more players to help us."

The off-season will be shorter than usual after the coronavirus break pushed the season back, with the Premier League set to start up again on September 12. Nuno is again targeting European qualification next season after helping his side achieve the feat in back-to-back campaigns.

“It’s a short break, you cannot stop and start again, we now have to prepare well this period we have to rest," he continued. “We are here because we did some really good things. We made the same classification with more points.

“European football is something we chase, because we want to improve.

“The Premier League is challenging enough, it’s almost like playing in the Champions League. Nothing can disturb the work the players are doing. They will be ready for the next one.”

Although Nuno is hoping to add new players during the brief off-season, one of his biggest priorities will be finding a way to keep Jimenez at the club.

The 29-year-old had a career-best season in 2019-20, managing 27 goals in all competitions including 17 in the Premier League. 

That form has led the Mexico star to be linked with a host of Europe's biggest clubs, including Manchester United and Juventus.

Julen Lopetegui says Manchester United are "the biggest team in the world" but is confident Sevilla will come out on top in Sunday's Europa League semi-final tie.

The La Liga side set up a showdown with 2017 winners United in Cologne with a late 1-0 victory over another English opponent in Wolves  on Wednesday.

Yassine Bounou saved Raul Jimenez's early penalty and that proved a key moment, with Sevilla's pressure telling two minutes from time when Lucas Ocampos headed in.

United beat Copenhagen 1-0 after extra-time on Tuesday and now await Lopetegui's men, who are seeking a record-extending fourth triumph in the competition since its rebranding in 2009.
 
"We are going to play against Manchester United in the next match - they're the biggest team in the world but we're going to be prepared for them," Lopetegui told reporters.

"We're focused on the next game, against a top, historic side, one of the best in the history of the sport who are in great form. 

"We will give our best as we always do. To play against them will be really tough, but we'll go into it believing we can beat them."

Sevilla had 76 per cent of the ball against Wolves but created only a couple of chances before Ocampos popped up late on with his 17th goal of the season.

Lopetegui insists his side were good value for the win and is after a similar type of performance against in-form United next weekend.

"I think we deserved the win today. The key was to chip, chip, chip away, have patience and wait until the right moment," he said.

"I am very proud of my players because we were against a very good team. We needed to have the ball and not make mistakes because they have very fast forwards. 

"We played very well against a good team. We had to be very concentrated."

Defeat for Wolves brings an end a gruelling 2019-20 campaign that started 13 months ago and saw them play 17 games in Europe.

Boss Nuno Espirito Santo is proud of his players' efforts and already has one eye on next season, which begins in a little over four weeks' time.

"There is a sense of frustration," he told BT Sport. "The last minute [goal] is something that's happened to us too many times, but I'm proud of the boys. 

"We played a tough team but it's all about small margins. We came this far, now it's over – let's rest and look to the future.

"There are players out there who gave everything. Of course the legs and the brain don't work so good. 

"We must be proud of ourselves and admit we made some mistakes this season which we need to rectify to compete at a higher level. 

"It was a long journey. We wanted to go as far as we could - we had it very close today and everyone's disappointed but we should not ignore the players' efforts. 

"It's been almost 14 months of hard work. Disappointment is something that can't take away all the good things we've been doing."

Atalanta have a responsibility "not to disappoint" when they face Neymar and Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, Gian Piero Gasperini says.

The Serie A side are the last Italian team left in the Champions League in what is their first appearance in Europe's top competition.

Gasperini's men have become renowned as one of Italy and Europe's most entertaining teams: they scored 98 times in Serie A this season and have averaged two goals for and two against per Champions League match.

The Bergamo region was hit particularly hard by the coronavirus pandemic, and Gasperini thinks Atalanta owe it to themselves and their supporters at home to stick to their principles in the quarter-final.

"We know very well the anticipation around this match, given the passion and love around Bergamo for Atalanta," he said.

"This year, there is even more motivation given all that has happened. It's a football match but we have to represent our region in the best way possible.

"We arrive in the best mental condition. We've got some very important results after the lockdown.

"We are proof that even a team without a European heritage can do well and achieve important goals through playing, enthusiasm and other things.

"We have a responsibility to ourselves not to disappoint. We want to continue to show that Atalanta can sit at the table of the biggest clubs."

The threat of Covid-19 means the remaining Champions League matches are being held as one-off ties behind closed doors in the neutral city of Lisbon.

Gasperini admits he would prefer to have a two-legged tie, saying Atalanta "historically have done well in the second match".

"We are facing a team we've never faced before and have no direct parameters in terms of meeting their players," he said.

Kylian Mbappe is an injury doubt and Angel Di Maria is suspended, but Gasperini expects his players to have their hands full when it comes to stopping Neymar.

"He is undoubtedly one of the strongest in the world. It's a problem for anyone to face him," he said.

"The best way to defend is to play well. We'll try to stop him with our organisation. We've faced a lot of strong players."

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has condemned Boli Bolingoli for failing to follow the club's coronavirus guidelines, stressing he put the entire club in jeopardy. 

The Belgian midfielder recently travelled to Spain without informing the club or following proper quarantine protocol upon his return. 

Bolingol played for Celtic against Kilmarnock on Sunday before the Hoops became aware of his travel breach . 

The Scottish government has since threatened to pause the Scottish Premiership season with Lennon not holding back when asked about Bolingoli's actions. 

“I think it is one of the worst behaviours from an individual I have come across,” Lennon was quoted by The Scotsman .

“Everything has been tight and everything has been strict and he had been warned previously about travelling and he blatantly disregarded my instructions and the club’s instructions. It is a complete act of selfishness.

“It’s just appalling behaviour and one the club will deal with in the strongest 
possible way internally.

"He put everyone associated with the club, the playing staff, the backroom staff, the players at Kilmarnock and their staff in jeopardy. By the grace of God, he’s had two negative tests, but it’s not the point. It’s the lack of responsible behaviour which is paramount.”

Lennon was quick to defend the club's own behaviour surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, stressing that Bolingoli had simply decided to ignore Celtic's guidelines. 

“You cannot be any clearer than saying, ‘Don’t leave Glasgow. Stay around if you are going to the shops or whatever’. Now we have to log in 
everything we have done in terms of where we’ve been," Lennon said.

"There are no restaurants, no socialising, no cafes, but this particular individual has decided to jump on a plane and go to Spain for a day, which is baffling. Then he comes back and doesn’t tell anybody where he has been.

"We have been totally oblivious to it for the whole week leading up to the Kilmarnock game [on Sunday]. Obviously he played some minutes in the game and, again, we were oblivious to it. But all this came out yesterday and blew up in our faces really. So, in terms of the club responsibility, the club can’t do any more. The club have done everything possible for my backroom team, the playing staff, the people who work here.

“Everybody has done their bit. We’ve had umpteen rounds of testing now and everything is negative But we can’t legislate for the behaviour of an individual. We can’t legislate for tracking them 24 hours a day. Sometimes you have to take accountability for this. I’m not saying the club are not taking accountability – we are holding our hands up. But it’s reprehensible behaviour from one individual.”

Thomas Tuchel backed Mauro Icardi to deliver for Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League quarter-final against Atalanta.

Icardi failed to score in the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue finals as PSG returned to competitive action last month.

The 27-year-old has netted 20 goals in 33 games in 2019-20, and will need to step up amid doubts over Kylian Mbappe, who is dealing with an ankle injury.

PSG coach Tuchel said Icardi would play an important role in Lisbon on Wednesday.

"Mauro is very important, especially with Kylian's injury and Edi Cavani absent," he told a news conference.

"It will be very important that he play a great game, showing his personality, showing that he can fight in important games. He is never scared, he can always score.

"We can rely on him tactically and defensively. His integration was great with the group, which was not very complicated as we have plenty of South American players, but he really fits in this locker room.

"It's now time for him to put us into the semis."

Despite a lingering injury, Tuchel hinted that Mbappe is set to feature for the French giants against Atalanta, with the Frenchman recovering quicker than expected. 

Icardi, meanwhile, noted last month that the remaining teams in the Champions League are a mixed bag with plenty to prove and PSG desperate to finally succeed in the competition. 

“I realised on the day of the draw that on our side there was no team that had already won the competition, while on the other side, there are practically only previous winners,” he said. 

“But be careful, because the teams in our part of the draw all have the same ambition as us, that is to say to finally win this title and change the course of history. 

“In recent years the team have failed in the Champions League and we are all very committed to changing that. The club's objective is to reach the final, and God willing, to finally be able to lift this trophy, because that is the reason why the club has invested in recent years.”

Yassine Bounou has now turned his attention to Sunday’s Europa League semi-final encounter with Manchester United.

The 29-year-old who is on loan from Girona was one of his side’s heroes as they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 at the MSV-Arena.

Bounou’s biggest moment was when he saved Raul Jimenez’s first-half penalty which proved decisive for the Spaniards before Lucas Ocampos headed home two minutes from full-time to guarantee victory.

In the process, he became the second African to save a penalty in the Europa League since Algeria’s Rais M’bolhi for CSKA Sofia against Porto in December 2010.

Following this result, they will now square up against the Red Devils – who beat Copenhagen 1-0 after extra-time on Tuesday - in their quest to reach the tournament’s final.

While praising his team for a job well done, the goalkeeper stated that Sevilla are now thinking of their next fixture versus Ole Gunnar Solskajer’s team.

"I'm very happy with the work of all the team. We faced a very well-organised team, hard-working at the back, waiting for the counter with quick players upfront. We kept going and got our reward,” Bounou told club website.

"Very exciting, both for us and for the Sevilla fans. The Europa League is an important competition for the club and we'll go with that excitement, not thinking about anything else. We'll think about the next match and nothing else.

"During the season the team was always growing, but now the aim is very clear and you can see that in the players' performances.”

In the just-concluded 2019-20 Spanish topflight season, the former Wydad Casablanca and Atletico Madrid man featured in six games as he played second fiddle to Czech Republic international Tomas Vaclik.

Even at that, he sees himself as a key member in Julen Lopetegui’s star-studded squad.

"I always enjoyed and felt like an important player at Sevilla, beyond playing or not,” he continued.

“I always felt like I was on the boat. I always gave the best of me from where I played, and now that it is my time to play, even more so."

Marten de Roon has stuck by his promise to make pizza for more than 1,000 people if Atalanta win the Champions League.

Atalanta face Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals in Lisbon on Wednesday as they look to continue their dream run.

De Roon said earlier this year he would make pizza for the fans in Bergamo if the Serie A club go on to win Europe's premier club competition.

Speaking ahead of the meeting with PSG, the 29-year-old midfielder is sticking by that plan.

"As I said, if we win the Champions League there will be pizza for more than 1,000 people," De Roon told a news conference.

"However, if we lose, we will try to reach that goal again next year. I can't support us losing. We will try again next year and we will see how it goes."

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Atalanta's quarter-final will consist of a single game rather than two legs and De Roon believes this benefits his side against a team as strong as PSG. 

“Playing only 90 minutes against such a strong side is easier than facing them over two legs," he told France Football. 

“We can cause an upset, even if it will be difficult. We will give our best. At the time of the draw, I thought it would be a fantastic game.

“After the first leg of the group stage, we didn’t think we could get this far. We wanted to win the last two games to qualify for the Europa League and instead it went well for us.

“The break after the championship has been good for us. We played a lot and it wasn’t easy.

“We don’t run more than the other, we do it better, given that we spend most of the matches in the opposition’s half of the pitch. Our goal is to get the ball back as high up as possible.”

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini is desperate for his side to continue their great run in the Champions League and called on them to prove they belong among the best clubs in the world. 

"We are proof that even a team without a European heritage can do well and achieve important goals through playing, enthusiasm and other things," he said. 

"We have a responsibility to ourselves not to disappoint. We want to continue to show that Atalanta can sit at the table of the biggest clubs."

Kylian Mbappe is set for a sensational return to action for Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League quarter-final clash with Atalanta on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old had been expected to miss out after suffering an ankle injury in the Coupe de France final win over Saint-Etienne on July 24. However, PSG boss Thomas Tuchel has now suggested Mbappe is ready to play a role from the bench.

"If he has a good training session today and nothing extraordinary happens, he will be with the team tomorrow,” Tuchel told his pre-match press conference.

“We are very happy that he is with the group and that we can have the possibility of finishing the match with him.”

If Mbappe does feature, even if only from the bench, it will represent a remarkable change of fortunes for PSG. Tuchel has previously said he thought it would take a “miracle” for Mbappe to be fit in time for the game, as the French champions look to stake their claim for the European crown.

Having Mbappe back eases some of the pressure on Neymar, although Tuchel feels the Brazilian has the mindset and ability to carry the PSG attacking threat if needed.

"I have the impression that there is always a lot of pressure on him, but he likes it," said Tuchel of Neymar. "He is used to playing with this pressure.

"We are very happy that Kylian is also with the group and that we can have the possibility to finish the match with him, because the two like to play together. Neymar is decisive on the big matches and I am convinced that he can be the key man for us. He has the necessary quality for this kind of situation."

While plenty of fans saw PSG as having received a favourable draw in Atalanta, Gian Piero Gasperini’s vibrant side are in the last eight on merit and scored 98 goals this season in Serie A.

Having his team as close to full strength as possible would, therefore, be a huge relief to Tuchel, who has already made clear his frustration at finishing the campaign without the likes of Edinson Cavani and Thomas Meunier, who have left the club.

Mbappe has scored 30 goals and registered 18 assists in 34 games in all competitions for PSG this season, their top scorer ahead of Mauro Icardi and Neymar.

Tuchel is also sweating on the fitness of key midfielder Marco Verratti, who didn’t fly to Portugal with the rest of the squad due to a calf injury.

“There isn’t much time, but we will try everything,” Tuchel said on the Italian.

Verratti has played in all but one of PSG's Champions League outings so far this season, missing their last-16 second leg against Borussia Dortmund through suspension.

Javi Martinez is looking to leave Bayern Munich after eight years with the German club, chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has confirmed.

The 31-year-old midfielder joined Bayern from Athletic Bilbao in 2012 and has won 19 trophies during his time at the Allianz Arena.

However, Martinez has been restricted to just 10 starts in all competitions in 2019-20 and recently entered the final 12 months of his contract.

Goal and SPOX reported last month that no talks over a new contract had taken place and that no decision had been made over Martinez's future.

Rummenigge has opened the door for the Spaniard to move on during the close season, with teams in France and former club Athletic rumoured to be interested.

"We know that he would like to leave the club with a suitable offer," Rummenigge told AZ. 

"We wouldn't put any obstacles in his way because he was always a good player and a reliable, serious person. We will always try to find a solution that suits the player."

In an interview with Marca in June, Martinez insisted that he was not looking to leave Bayern but admitted that he was also keeping his options open, including a potential return to Athletic.

"I am open to everything that fulfils me personally and physically. I could live and play in the USA, in Australia, or return to Spain," Martinez said.

"I had six unbelievable years in Bilbao. Of course it is an option."

Rummenigge also reiterated on Wednesday that fellow midfielder Thiago Alcantara, strongly linked with Liverpool, will only be allowed to leave if his valuation is met.

"Regarding Thiago, it's known that he told us he wanted to do something new," Rummenigge told Bild.

"If a club approaches us that is willing to pay a fair transfer fee, we will work on it."

Bayern are also in talks with versatile defender David Alaba over a new contract, while loanee Philippe Coutinho will return to Barcelona later this month.

On Alaba, Rummenigge told the media that he was "cautiously optimistic we will find a solution" as the Austrian's contract enters its final year.

Atalanta are preparing for their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain by assuming Kylian Mbappe will be fit to play, manager Gian Piero Gasperini says.

PSG’s top scorer Mbappe had looked certain to miss the quarter-final after suffering an ankle injury in the Coupe de France final win over Saint-Etienne on July 24.

At one point, Thomas Tuchel said it would take a “miracle” for Mbappe to recover in time.

On Tuesday, though, Tuchel confirmed Mbappe would likely be fit to make an appearance from the bench , bar any last-minute disruptions.

Atalanta are the underdogs going into the game despite an exceptional season in Serie A, and Gasperini is in no illusions as to the size of the task awaiting his team.

"Mbappe is an extraordinary player. He can change a game,” Gasperini told reporters.

“We are preparing ourselves by thinking that he will be on the field. We'll see tomorrow."

On Tuesday, Tuchel said: "If he has a good training session today and nothing extraordinary happens, he will be with the team tomorrow.

“We are very happy that he is with the group and that we can have the possibility of finishing the match with him.”

PSG will still be without midfield lynchpin Marco Verratti, who suffered a calf problem recently.

Whatever team PSG do play, it will be one packed with star names – including the irrepressible Neymar. Gasperini believes he has a plan to stop the Brazilian, but he knows the quality he possesses.

"Neymar is one of the best players in the world,” he said.

“It's a problem for any team that faces Neymar, but I think the best way to defend against him is to play well and force him to defend.

“We'll try to do it with our organisation. We have met a lot of great players. He's one of them, but I think we can reduce his impact."

The winner of Wednesday's tie will go on to meet either RB Leipzig or Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals, with Atletico the only club of the four ever to have reached the Champions League final in the past.

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane was left disappointed following his side's draw with Orlando Pirates on Tuesday night.

The Brazilians resumed their PSL campaign with a 0-0 draw against the Buccaneers at Dobsonville Stadium and the result saw Sundowns remain second on the league standings - three points behind leaders Kaizer Chiefs.

However, Mosimane admitted that it was a game of two halves with his side having dominated the first half, before Pirates took control of the match after the restart. 

"Yes, a game of two halves for us, we were much better in the first-half, second-half we have to give it to Orlando Pirates, let's be honest and they missed two chances, to be honest. Okay, we had one [chance] but not really convincing," Mosimane told SuperSport TV.

"The second-half they took it, you could see they were much stronger, much fresher than us in the second half. We survived a bit, Mosa [Lebusa] calf [injury], you know. But it's okay, it's a good point, we'll take a point. We're playing Orlando Pirates remember?"

Mosimane, who is looking to guide Sundowns to their third successive PSL title this season, explained that he had to introduce Jose Ali Meza and Andile Jali in the second half because Pirates were dominating the midfield.

"We put Ali [Meza] there to put more fresh legs, I think Keletso [Makgalwa] ran enough, 'Mshishi' [Themba Zwane] also, we put Andile [Jali] to help us in midfield because we could see that they were going through, to make sure that we strengthen the midfield because we had a problem there," he added.

"They were going through and I played a three-man midfield. But it's football, we're going for the long haul, it's a good point, don't undermine a point against Orlando Pirates. It's a big point, two tough games, [Bidvest] Wits and Orlando Pirates. Yes, not bad. It's still a long haul, we're still going," he said.

Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates head coach Josef Zinnbauer had mixed feelings as the Buccaneers drew their maiden competitive match since March.

Despite the draw, Bucs moved up to the third place on the league standings and Zinnbauer was left to rue his side's missed chances with the likes of Paseka Mako and Fortune Makaringe having failed to convert their goalscoring opportunities. 

"First time, you could see it's [been] a long time since we last played but we came more and more in the game. In the first half, a 0-0 was okay. The second half was much better, we had chances to win the game but Sundowns always had a chance," Zinnbauer told SuperSport TV.

"It was a very difficult game for us, top players against us. Yes, at the end of the time we hit the post, with a little luck you win the game. I'm not 100 percent unhappy, I'm not 100 percent [feeling] bad. We have the next game in three days, that's the focus now."

Pirates were without Thembinkosi Lorch and Justin Shonga as the two attackers are facing disciplinary action after they were found to have breached the team's protocols and Zinnbauer explained that the decision was taken by the technical team.

"It was a decision from us, the staff, from the coaches. We have to see the next game, we need a lot of players. You know this difficult time, after three days you have a game, we need the whole squad, so yes all the players have a chance," he concluded.

Pirates' next match will be against Bidvest Wits at Ellis Park Stadium on Saturday, while Sundowns are set to take on Highlands Park on Friday.

Andrea Pirlo encapsulates the essence of a modern footballing legend, with his legacy on the pitch reaching far beyond his native Italy.

Regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all-time, Pirlo had a starring career in Italy playing for the likes of AC Milan and Juventus before retiring at New York City FC in 2017 - not to mention being a pivotal force in the Azzurri's 2006 World Cup victory.

The icon was named head coach of former side Juventus in August 2020, replacing Maurizio Sarri at the helm after just over a week of managing the Under-23 side.

Goal brings you everything you need to know about Pirlo's net worth, how much he earns, the charity work he is involved in and more.

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What is Andrea Pirlo's net worth?

Pirlo's net worth is estimated at around £38 million (€42m/$50m), amassed from a combination from his earnings as a footballer as well as several sponsorship deals.

The Italian earned that figure across a 22-year playing career across Italy and the United States.

He lifted two Champions League trophies with AC Milan before winning four consecutive Scudettos with Juventus.

Pirlo was a crucial part of the Italy national team that won the 2006 World Cup, and was elected into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

The ex-midfielder is known to not discuss his finances in public, and also owns a stake in his father's metal trading company, Elg Steel.

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How much does Andrea Pirlo earn?

As head coach of Juventus, Pirlo is reported to be earning an annual salary of up to £7.5 million (€8m/$9.8m), according to online sources.

Pirlo signed a two-year contract with the Serie A side, which means that his contract is worth £14 million (€15.5m/$18m) across two years.

He is also understood to be have signing and tournament-winning bonuses included in the terms of his contract, which would see his salary amount to £16 million (€18m/$20m) over the course of two years at the Allianz.

It is slightly less than the amountother top-class coaches earn in lucrative divisions such as the Premier League.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola earns £15 million (€16.5m/$18.5m) a year in comparison, similar to what Jose Mourinho receives at Tottenham. Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp earns a reported £10 million (€11m/$12.5m) a year at Liverpool.

Taking the £7.5m as Pirlo's annual salary at Juventus, you can see a breakdown of what he earns per month, week, day, year and minute below.

*Approximates

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What sponsorship deals does Andrea Pirlo have?

Pirlo has had previous deals with the likes of Nike throughout his playing days and beyond, with the popular sportswear brand even releasing a special limited edition of the Nike Tiempo Legend 6 boot for the ex-midfielder.

The Juventus head coach also has a partnership with Rolex, who have released his own Submariner watch as part of the Andrea Pirlo Project.

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What charity work does Andrea Pirlo do?

Pirlo has been involved in several charities throughout his playing career and post-retirement, playing in high-profile charity football matches supporting a variety of organisations - such as support of the Piedmontese Foundation for Cancer Research.

He has shown his support for fighting racism in football, joining other FIFA legends in solidarity against discrimination.

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How many social media followers does Andrea Pirlo have?

Pirlo has approximately 7.8 million followers across his Instagram page, where he posts photos regularly about his life on and off of the pitch.

He also has a Twitter account which is home to 2.8 million followers, though he is less active on this platform.

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Shakhtar Donetsk eased past Basel 4-1 on Tuesday to book an intriguing Europa League semi-final against Inter.

The 2008-09 UEFA Cup winners made light work of their Swiss opponents in Gelsenkirchen after scoring early through Moraes.

Taison doubled Shakhtar's lead and further goals could and perhaps should have followed long before Alan Patrick's penalty made it three as Basel were dominated in the one-legged last-eight tie.

Shakhtar, who got a late fourth through Dodo, will surely now back themselves to at least cause Antonio Conte's Inter problems next week, although this routine victory did little to test their readiness.

Luis Castro's side led after just 100 seconds with the aid of some generous goalkeeping from stand-in Djordje Nikolic.

Marlos delivered a corner from the right and Nikolic, playing due to Jonas Omlin's injury, lunged hopelessly towards the ball, granting Moraes an open goal when he got there first with the header.

Afimico Pululu shot agonisingly across the face of goal at the other end, but Shakhtar remained in control and the second soon followed.

A speedy break from halfway resulted in Marlos controlling on the right corner of the box, taking his time to pick out Taison, whose wayward attempt was deflected high into the net by Fabian Frei.

Nikolic saved smartly from Moraes and was alert again as Marlos rifled an effort goalwards from 20 yards, before Marcos Antonio swept a stunning strike against the crossbar.

Basel belatedly enjoyed a better spell just after the hour mark, but a VAR review did not provide Pululu with a penalty and then Arthur Cabral squandered a big opportunity, lifting his finish wide of goal with Andriy Pyatov stranded.

There would be no fightback as Taison went over in the area and a spot-kick did this time follow, allowing Alan Patrick to calmly beat a scrambling Nikolic.

There was still time for Dodo to thump in number four following Mateus Tete's well-timed pass on the counter, with Ricky van Wolfswinkel's stoppage-time tap-in from Kemal Ademi's centre the scantest of consolations. 

What does it mean? Elite European experience tells

This Shakhtar side are experienced campaigners in continental competition and made the most of the absence of a couple of key men in the Basel XI, with Nikolic and centre-back Jasper van der Werff each struggling.

The Ukrainians showed their nous throughout a comfortable triumph, pouncing on Basel's errors while making few of their own. Inter should prove a different proposition.

Marvellous Marlos dazzles

Shakhtar's best work was channelled through Marlos, who excelled from set-pieces and so often picked the right pass in open play – as evidenced by his assists.

The second goal in particular came courtesy of the winger's calm in the final third. With Shakhtar players bombing forward, Marlos steadied himself and, when he might have rushed a shot, teed up Taison.

Nikolic nixes Basel hopes

Shakhtar were clear favourites coming into this clash, but Basel did not need to look far for inspiration. Quarter-final underdogs Copenhagen had taken Manchester United to extra-time on Monday.

But where Copenhagen kept things tight and relied on a standout performance from their goalkeeper, Basel's Nikolic quickly erred. The inexperienced 23-year-old was foolishly tempted from his line with less than two minutes on the clock and gave his side a mountain to climb.

What's next?

Shakhtar might find next opponents Inter a little less accommodating when they meet in Dusseldorf next Monday.